Israel’s widely condemned decision to ban US Congresswomen Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar from entering Israel has been met with fierce backlash from the international community.

On Thursday 15 August, Israel initially barred the two congresswomen from entering the country for a diplomatic visit, citing their alleged support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.

Under a controversial Israeli law, supporters of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement can be denied entry to Israel.

Rashida Tlaib, however, was granted a “humanitarian” visa to visit her family in the occupied West Bank after she made an appeal to Israel’s Interior Ministry to visit her ageing grandmother.

Following this decision, Tlaib said will no longer visit due to the "oppressive conditions" stipulated by the Israeli government.

"Silencing me and treating me like a criminal is not what she wants for me. It would kill a piece of me. I have decided that visiting my grandmother under these oppressive conditions stands against everything I believe in - fighting against racism, oppression and injustice," she Tweeted.

Ilhan Omar remains banned from entering Israel.

General Secretary of the Palestinian National Initiative, Dr Mustafa Barghouti, spoke with American news station Democracy Now about the implications of Israel’s decision to ban the congresswomen.